Photo by laura padgett
Dish of the Week: white pizza from Red Zebra with Dutch-Belted cow cheese, bacon, kale micro-greens, and balsamic syrup
Where: Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market
It’s the time of year when farmers and producers we’ve dearly missed over the winter start to return to the city. Beginning with the opening of the Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market yesterday, the next few weeks are poised to see more markets return and relieve us from months of living on gourds, tubers, and hardy greens. With the unseasonably warm weather kicking the growing season into gear we can only hope it won’t be too long before asparagus, berries, and, shimmering like a mirage in a winter food desert, tomatoes make their way to the markets.
But DC’s farmers markets offer more than just fruits and veggies. There are producers offering everything from pickles to pies to brick-oven pizzas at your local market. One new producer to the Penn Quarter market this year is Red Zebra, a Baltimore-based food truck that serves wood-oven pizzas at markets around the Baltimore-DC area. With its use of ingredients like rabbit sausage, smoked cheddar, and house-made beef pepperoni, these pies offer a tasty treat after you’ve worked up an appetite shopping for local produce.
Below are a few of the upcoming openings in the District. You can find a more detailed listing over at metrocurean.
Foggy Bottom FRESHFARM Market, opens April 4
Wednesdays, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
I St NW between New Hampshire Ave NW and 24th St NW
14 & U Street, opens May 5
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
NW corner of 14th St NW and U St NW, in front of the Reeves Center
Columbia Heights, opens May 12
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
14th St NW and Park Rd NW
Bloomingdale, opens May 13
Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
1st St NW and R St NW, in front of Big Bear Cafe
Small Bites
James Beard finalists announced
The 2012 finalists for the James Beard awards have been announced and D.C. chefs and restaurants earned a few notable spots on the list. Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola is a finalist for Best New Restaurant and, save for one lone finalist from New Jersey, the D.C. area took every nomination in the Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic category. Sorry, Philly.
This little piggy
It’s that time of year again: Cochon 555 is upon us. The ten-city nose-to-tail competition comes to D.C. on April 22 and will pit five local chefs against each other as they break down a whole pig and prepare every cut. Scott Drewno of The Source, last year’s winner, is back along with Ed Witt of 701, Nicholas Stefanelli of Bibiana, Wes Morton of Art and Soul, and the seemingly-ubiquitous Mike Isabella of Graffiato.
Perhaps now it’ll be possible to get a reservation…
On the heels of news that Chef Vikram Sunderam is a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic, things keep getting better for Rasika. Ashok Bajaj’s sleek Penn Quarter restaurant has remained one of the District’s most in-demand tables and fans are sure to be excited by the opening of its sister restaurant, Rasika West End, officially announced for March 30. The Post offers a first look at the new space along with the exciting news that, while favorites like the palak chaat will remain on the menu, the new location will feature some new dishes and a new cocktail list from Julia Ebell of The Gibson.